Bega Retravision's artistic re-purposing

BEGA'S old Retravision store has reopened with an exhibition and interactive art installations as part of Festival of the Face.

Anna Senior, Richard Maude and Chris Phillipps in front of artwork by St Patrick’s Primary School students in the ReArtVision space.

AS PART of the Festival of the Face, art space ReArtVision has opened at the old Retravision store on Gipps St, Bega, featuring an exhibition and interactive art installations.

The exhibition displays portraiture, sculptures and photography by local artists made around the theme of the face.

St Patrick’s School students contributed self-portraits made of natural objects such as twigs and leaves, and some homeschooled children as well as students from other schools will also be entering artworks.

A short film festival organised by Tony Dean will be held in the theatrette part of the ReArtVision later this month, with the idea of showing local and interesting works.

John Trewin will be manning the Festival Photo Booth, taking photographs of visitors and displaying them in the exhibition along with his own work.

Jewellery and sculptor artist Sharon Cornthwaithe is the artist in residence at ReArtVision, and visitors can come in and watch her work in her studio as well as look at her completed artwork on display.

She ran a riveting workshop on June 11, and will be running a couple of workshops next week.

Organisation of the Festival of the Face came together in about four months, which committee member Chris Phillipps said is an “amazingly short time”.

“There is a lot of artistic talent, cultural talent in the Bega Valley which not all members of the community are aware of,” he said.

Curatorial coordinator of ReArtVision Richard Maude would like to see the art space continue after June, in its current place or another.

“Bega needs a space like this and I feel it is ready to support an arts centre like this,” he said.

He said it would be great to have an artist studio in residence, or an artist exchange program with other areas.

“Festival of the Face in general energises artists in the community to get together and do something more,” Mr Maude said.

The building has been donated by its owner for the exhibition, which will run for the duration of June.

ReArtVision is open Tuesday to Friday 10am until 4pm, and Saturday 10am until 2pm.